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Check out the latest issue of The Seraph, the newsletter of Saint Bonaventure Province.

In this issue, you’ll meet our student friars — five novices were invested with the Franciscan habit and nine postulants began their formation journey! Also, enjoy photos from Corpus Christi processions around the province and read updates from our Apostolates (ministries) across the Midwest.

Fr. Thomas Fetz reflections on his visit to Vietnam to study the language. One thing that he has found consistently during his trips to other countries is that there is so much more to learn than the language. Here are some things he learned on his journey…

Since the Basilica began a monthly Spanish Mass for our school families, attendance has grown to over 100 people! The committee who makes this Mass possible gathered for a celebration in the Parish Center.

The restructuring of the Diocese of Peoria has sparked innovative thinking. St. John the Baptist Church in Lostant, IL has now become an Oratory, a place set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass. The building is open daily for individual and small group prayer with a lounge, conference room, and spaces for private prayer.

St. Anselm Parish in Dearborn Heights, MI is the newest of the parishes the friars have taken on within the Province. The parishioners are happy to have a Franciscan pastor and like seeing how the friars work together as a community to help each other within our family of parishes. This summer there have been several baptisms, one wedding (the first since COVID), and the first Eucharistic procession!

On July 15, the Feast of our Province’s Patron, St. Bonaventure, friars gathered to witness the Simple Profession of our brother, Friar James Carlo Muzzey. Friar James (taking the Religious Name ‘Carlo,’ after soon-to-be-saint Carlo Acutis) was blessed to have loved ones present. Afterwards, the Marytown community provided a delicious spread for dinner and dessert. A great time was enjoyed by all.

We give thanks to Almighty God for the Investiture of five new Novices for our Order in the United States! On July 12, at the St. Francis of Assisi Novitiate in Arroyo Grande, California, friars gathered to celebrate the Investiture of five men in the habit of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.

On July 5, friars gathered from around the United States at St. Bonaventure Friary to officially welcome the new class of Postulants. The ‘Rite of Beginning Fraternity’ was held within the context of Evening Prayer (Vespers) with Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. presiding. This year’s cohort is comprised of nine men from around the United States and beyond – including three from our Province!

This July, five men will be invested with the Franciscan habit and begin novitiate, the second stage of formation, in California. We interviewed each of the incoming novices and asked them to share their experience over the last year of postulancy. Watch the videos here!

Having recently participated in the 203rd Ordinary General Chapter of our Order in Rome, Provincial Fr. Paul Joseph
Langevin shares his thoughts on the gathering which brought together so many of the brothers from around the world. The General Chapter also included an audience with Pope Leo XIV and a trip to Assisi.